Portable screen device

ABSTRACT

A portable screen device provides an easily installed barrier against insects and a level of privacy. The device includes one or more screen panels the top edges of which are suspended from a wire. The ends of the wire are mounted in an opening such that the screen panels cover the opening. The bottom edges of the screen panels are weighted for stability and to prevent movement in the wind.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/215,905, filed Jul. 3, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to portable screen devices. Inparticular, the present invention relates to portable screen deviceswhich provide a barrier against insects and privacy.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Screens have long been used in conjunction with doorways andwindows to allow air to flow through the doorway or window whilepreventing insects and debris from entering. Generally, these screensare made from a flexible screen material which is mounted about itsperimeter to the doorway or window frame. The mounting can be permanentor temporary, however, common to all of the previous devices is amounting system for the entire perimeter of the screen device.

[0006] Screen devices are well known in the form of screens which areattached to openings such as doors and windows. Previously known screensgenerally are attached to doors and windows by using mounting meanslocated about the perimeter of the door or window. For example, U.S.Pat. No. 5,427,169 issued to Saulters describes a garage door screen.The perimeter of the screen is attached to the garage door opening usingVelcro® or another similar attachment means. While the screen can beremoved from the garage door opening, it cannot be used in locationsother than a garage door opening which includes the appropriate mountingmeans.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,917 shows a screen for garages, porches andsimilar locations. The screen is detachably mounted to the frame of theopening it is designed to protect. Again, this device can only be usedin conjunction with a frame having the appropriate mounting hardwareinstalled about its perimeter.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 2,246,663 shows a screen for outward openingcasement windows. This screen uses clips to attach the screen to thewindow frame. Again, this device can only be used in conjunction with awindow frame having the appropriate mounting means installed about theperimeter of the frame.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,449 shows an adjustable screen for garagedoors or windows. The screen is detachably mounted to the perimeter ofthe door or window frame using a hook and loop fastener and, as shown inthe previous devices, requires that mounting material be installed aboutthe perimeter of the door or window frame.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0010] A portable screen device is described which includes at least onescreen panel which is attached to a framed opening such as a window ordoorway and suspended from the attachment system. Each screen panel mayinclude a stabilizing means such as weights or a metal chain forstabilizing the bottom edge of each screen panel. The stabilizing meanscan be placed in a pocket formed by folding up the bottom edge of eachscreen panel. Each screen panel may consist of screen material whichincludes a frame around the outer edges of the screen. The frame can bemade out of a durable, flexible fabric material. Hooks can be attachedto the top edge of each screen panel. To hide the hooks, the top edge ofeach screen panels can be folded down and releasably attached to thepanel below the hooks. A wire is threaded through the hooks and the endsof the wire are attached to the frame opening, using eyehook screws orthe like, to suspend each screen panel in the opening. If desired, anapparatus, such as a turnbuckle, can be used to tighten the wire. If twoor more screen panels are used, the panels can be connected alongadjoining side edges using a releasable connection system such as snapsor hook and loop fastener.

[0011] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aportable screen device.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide aportable screen device which provides a barrier against insects.

[0013] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide aportable screen device which provides privacy.

[0014] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide aportable screen device which is easily moved to different locations asneeded.

[0015] Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplishthe foregoing objectives in a simple and cost effective manner .

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is an exploded front view of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0017]FIG. 2a is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 in the unfoldedconfiguration;

[0018]FIG. 2b is a cross sectional view of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention taken along line II-II of FIG. 1 in the foldedconfiguration; and

[0019]FIG. 3 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention in the installed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The following detailed description is of the best presentlycontemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description isnot to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purposeof illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention.

[0021] The present invention provides a portable screen device whichprovides screen protection for an opening such as a patio, deck ordoorway. The device includes one or more screen panels. The screenpanels may further include a flexible frame, made from a durable fabricor other material. If more than one screen panel is used, the panels areconnected to each other along their side edges. This connection meanscan be any releasable method such as snaps or hook and loop fastener andcan be attached to the fabric frame. The top edges of the screen panelsinclude a system for suspending the panels. The suspension system can behooks through which a wire is threaded. The suspension system is mountedin the opening. If the hook and wire suspension system is used, the wirecan be mounted in the opening using screws and, if desired, a turnbucklefor tightening the wire.

[0022] A preferred embodiment of the portable screen device is shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. Two screen panels 10 are shown in this embodimentalthough it is clearly contemplated that different numbers of screenpanels could be used. The screen panels 10 may be made from any materialcommonly used in the industry. Generally the screen material is durableand porous while preventing the entry of insects. Each panel 10 may besurrounded by a frame 12 made of a flexible material. This frame 12provides added durability and an improved surface for attaching otheritems as described herein. The frame 12 is preferably made from adurable fabric material. Along the bottom edges of the panels 10, apocket 14 is formed by turning up a portion of the frame 12. Inside thispocket 14 a stabilizer 16, such as a metal chain, is placed in order toprevent or discourage movement of the panels 10. The ends of the pocket14 may be sewn closed to ensure that the stabilizer 16 remains in thepocket 14. It is clearly contemplated that other types of stabilizers 16could be used, that the pocket 14 might not be necessary or thatstabilizers 16 might be unnecessary in a protected environment.

[0023] As shown particularly in FIGS. 2a and 2 b, along the top edges ofthe screen panels 10, another pocket 18 is preferably formed. In themost preferred embodiment, this pocket 18 is formed by turning down aportion of the top edges of the screen 10 or flexible frame 12 andreleasably attaching the top edges to the screen 10 or to frame 12. Thisreleasable attachment can be snaps or hook and loop fastener or anyother appropriate attachment.

[0024] The two screen panels 10 can be connected along their interiorside edges by any releasable means such as snaps or hook and loopfastener 20. This type of closing prevents entry by insects but allowsthe screen panels 10 to be opened if necessary. If there is no need toopen the screen panels 10, a single panel or permanent connection meanscan be used.

[0025] In order to hang the present invention within an opening, asuspension system is provided along the top edges of the screen panels10. The most preferred suspension system consists of hooks 22 attachedto the top edges of the screen panels 10. The hooks 22 are preferablylocated within the previously described pocket 18 formed along the topedges of the screen panels 10. A wire 24 is threaded through the hooks22, or, if appropriate, the hooks 22 are clipped onto the wire 24, andextends beyond the edges of the screen panels 10. The wire 24 is thenattached to eyehook screws 26 which are installed in the upper comers ofthe opening. A particularly preferred embodiment includes a method fortightening the wire 24 once the panels have been installed such as aturnbuckle 28 or other appropriate method.

[0026] If desired, the invention can include a method for strapping thescreen panels 10 out of the way as needed. One method for accomplishingthis is to provide a strap 30 attached to the external side edge of eachpanel 10. This strap 30 can include a releasable attachment means suchas snaps or hook and loop fastener 32 on its opposite sides. The strap30 is pulled around the screen panel 10 and then hooked to itself thusholding the screen panels 10 away from the center of the opening.

[0027] While the description above refers to particular embodiments ofthe present invention, it will be understood that many modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanyingclaims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within thetrue scope and spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable screen device for hanging in a framedopening comprising: at least one screen panel having opposing side edgesand opposing top and bottom edges; suspending means for suspending thetop edge of the screen panel; and attaching means for attaching thesuspending means to the framed opening.
 2. A portable screen device asset forth in claim 1 wherein the portable screen device further includesa stabilizing means for stabilizing the bottom edge of the screen panel.3. A portable screen device as set forth in claim 2 wherein thestabilizing means for stabilizing the bottom edge of the screen panelconsists of a metal chain.
 4. A portable screen device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the screen panel further includes a flexible frameattached to the top, bottom and side edges of the screen panel.
 5. Aportable screen device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the suspendingmeans comprises: a plurality of hooks attached to the top edge of thescreen panel; and a wire threaded through the hooks.
 6. A portablescreen device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the attaching means is apair of eyehook screws.
 7. A portable screen device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the attaching means includes a tightening means fortightening the suspending means.
 8. A portable screen device as setforth in claim 7 wherein the tightening means for tightening thesuspending means is a turnbuckle.
 9. A portable screen device forhanging in a framed opening comprising: at least one screen panel havingopposing side edges and opposing top and bottom edges; stabilizing meansfor stabilizing the bottom edge of the screen panel; a plurality ofhooks attached to the top edge of the screen panel; a wire threadedthrough the hooks for suspending the top edge of the screen panel; and apair of screws for attaching the wire to the framed opening.
 10. Aportable screen device for hanging in a framed opening comprising: atleast two screen panels having opposing side edges and opposing top andbottom edges; connecting means for releasably connecting one side edgeof one screen panel to one side edge of the other screen panel;suspending means for suspending the top edges of the screen panels; andattaching means for attaching the suspending means to the framedopening.
 11. A portable screen device as set forth in claim 10 whereinthe portable screen device further includes a stabilizing means forstabilizing the bottom edges of the screen panels.
 12. A portable screendevice as set forth in claim 11 wherein the stabilizing means forstabilizing the bottom edges of the screen panels comprises: a pocketformed in the bottom edge of each screen panel; and a length of metalchain located in each pocket.
 13. A portable screen device as set forthin claim 10 wherein the screen panels further include a flexible frameattached to the top, bottom and side edges of the screen panels.
 14. Aportable screen device as set forth in claim 10 wherein the connectingmeans consists of mating strips of hook and loop fastener attached tothe opposing side edges of the screen panels.
 15. A portable screendevice as set forth in claim 10 wherein the suspending means comprises:a plurality of hooks attached to the top edges of the screen panels; anda wire threaded through the hooks.
 16. A portable screen device as setforth in claim 10 wherein the attaching means is a pair of eyehookscrews.
 17. A portable screen device as set forth in claim 10 whereinthe attaching means includes a tightening means for tightening thesuspending means.
 18. A portable screen device as set forth in claim 17wherein the tightening means for tightening the suspending means is aturnbuckle.
 19. A portable screen device as set forth in claim 10wherein the top edges of the screen panels are folded down to form apocket in which a substantial portion of the suspending means ispositioned.
 20. A portable screen device for hanging in a framed openingcomprising: at least two screen panels having opposing side edges andopposing top and bottom edges; connecting means for releasablyconnecting one side edge of one screen panel to one side edge of theother screen panel; stabilizing means for stabilizing the bottom edgesof the screen panels; a plurality of hooks attached to the top edges ofthe screen panels; a wire threaded through the hooks for suspending thetop edges of the screen panels; and a pair of screws for attaching thewire to the framed opening.